2010 Acura MDX Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2010 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while attempting to open the door, the contact’s grandson exited the vehicle, and the door closed independently. The contact stated that his daughter had experienced the door closing independently onto her right hand while exiting the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was diagnosed over the phone by the dealer, and the contact was informed that the door check strap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 184,000.

NHTSA ID

11673735

Incident

Jul 15, 2022

Mileage

184,000 mi

SO my car had a torque converter recall at some point i was not notified of it to get it fixed. as such i drove it across the us and ended up making the transmission slip so bad that it would not go into gear anymore. since this i have taken it a dealership where the recall was performed after the fat and now they want me to buy a new transmission.

NHTSA ID

11655948

Incident

Apr 19, 2025

The contact's wife owned a 2010 Acura MDX. The contact stated that while parked in his garage, the passenger's low beam headlamp was removed after it stopped illuminating. The contact observed then observed the driver's low beam heal lamp blinking. The contact stated after 10 minutes, he and his family observed a smokey odor in the house and retreated to the garage to inspect the origin of the odor. The contact then observed flames emanating from the passenger headlamp. The fire spread and within 45 minutes the entire house was engulfed in flames and the vehicle remained trapped under a collapsed roof. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department and a police report was filed. The Fire Inspector determined that the fire originated from the vehicle. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

NHTSA ID

11615437

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

Mileage

240,000 mi

This is in reference to Acura Service Bulletin 14-032, Rear Side Body Plug is missing. Both my right and left side body plugs were missing, causing myself and family to experience symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning for at least a year. I had the exhaust system checked by Acura and and independent garage and they found no issues. I would not have know about the cause if I had not found it in a chat thread in an Acura online community. All owners need to be notified. THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY SAFETY RECALL for Acura MDX for 2010-2013.

NHTSA ID

11595518

Incident

Jun 18, 2024

Massive consumption of oil2 qts every 1000 miles

NHTSA ID

11583911

Incident

Oct 23, 2019

THE OIL ISSUE. WE BOUGHT A 2010 ACURA MDX FROM ANOTHER PERSON, UNAWARE THAT NO MATTER HOW MUCH OIL YOU PUT IN IT, IT DOES NOT LAST VERY LONG. I TRAVEL 60 MILES/DAY BETWEEN WORK AND PICK-UP KIDS AND HOME. THE OIL LASTS MAYBE 2 DAYS SAYS EMPTY AND WE NEVER NEED TO ADD MUCH FOR IT TO BE FULL. WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT IS BIGGER AND WE HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. HAD A HONDA DIDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE, AND HAD A FEW PICK-UPS WITH OUT THIS ISSUE. ALL OLDER THAN THE ACURA.. THIS IS EXPENSIVE AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO FIX THIS??

NHTSA ID

11560634

Incident

Dec 18, 2023

My wife went to the grocery store and turned the car off. And upon doing so the car started smoking and she opened the hood and it was on fire. She opened the hood and put out the fire.

NHTSA ID

11557109

Incident

Nov 26, 2023

Backup camera doesn’t function. This is a know. Problem in Honda and 1.2 M car has been recalled few days back. However there is no recall for MDX though same issue exist. If you check Acura MDX forum there are number of people complaining about back up camera and harness wire having issue.

NHTSA ID

11529438

Incident

Jun 8, 2021

Never been in accident, Srs warning on dash, so took to Acura service dept in November of 2020, they confirmed it's the opds unit & the opds sensor inside seat, said it's not the seatbelts, & no airbags will deploy if in accident, they want to charge $1700+tax, we are poor & can not afford that or to buy another vehicle, our safety of our family with kids are at risk if in a accident because we can not afford the charge to replace the parts

NHTSA ID

11424713

Incident

Nov 25, 2020

Car has repeatedly stalled in oncoming traffic over the last 4 months.

NHTSA ID

11420938

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

VEHICLE: 2010 ACURA MDX. I WAS ON HWY 395 AT NIGHT AND THE CHECK BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. WE RECENTLY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND I FELT IT SAFE TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT TOWN TO HAVE THE BATTERY CHECKED BEFORE CONTINUING. WITHIN ABOUT 50 MILES, ALL OF THE OTHER WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON IN SUCCESSION. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER OR AREA TO PULL ON THIS SECTION OF HIGHWAY NEAR MONO LAKE AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT. I TRIED TO TURN ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND THEY WOULDN'T WORK. I COULDN'T SEE THE ROAD AND WAS GOING TO RAM THE SIDE OF THE CAR INTO THE RAILING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO TRY TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT (STILL NO SHOULDER ON MY SIDE AND I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS) AND MY DAUGHTER THOUGHT TO TURN ON HER CELL FLASHLIGHT WHICH GAVE ME ENOUGH LIGHT TO COAST ONTO THE OPPOSITE SHOULDER FACING AGAINST TRAFFIC. OUR CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WE ALSO HAD NO EMERGENCY LIGHTS. WE QUICKLY GOT OUT OUR CAMPING LANTERN AND WRAPPED OUR REFLECTIVE SAFETY ROPE AROUND THE CAR AND LUCKILY HAD CELLPHONE RECEPTION AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. IT TOOK A CHP OFFICER OVER AN HOUR TO SHINE LIGHTS ON THE CAR AND ANOTHER 90 MINUTES FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE. WE WERE TOWED TO MAMMOTH LAKES WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY WHICH THEY REPLACED WHEN THEY OPENED IN TWO DAYS. PULLING OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP, WE GOT A CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT AND TURNED AROUND FINDING OUT IT WAS ACTUALLY THE ALTERNATOR WHICH WAS REPLACED THE NEXT DAY. MY CONCERNS ARE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A CHARGING SYSTEM ALERT AND WHEN THE BATTERY DIED WE HAD NOTHING, NO POWER, HEADLIGHTS, TAILLIGHTS, OR EMERGENCY FLASHERS. IF WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, I'M CERTAIN THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A BAD OUTCOME FOR US AND WHOMEVER WOULD HAVE SLAMMED INTO OUR CAR IN THE DARK.

NHTSA ID

11388720

Incident

Aug 22, 2020

Mileage

103,000 mi

MY VEHICLE STARTED TO BURN A LOT OF OIL I TOOK IT TO ACURA AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS INDEED BURNING A LOT OF OIL AND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FROM ACURA, BUT BECAUSE THERE ARE 215,000 MILES ON MY CAR THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO COVER IT. EVEN THOUGH I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THE RECALL AND BECAUSE OF A MECHANICAL ISSUE ON THEIR PART I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. IT'S NOT FAIR AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11319277

Incident

Mar 5, 2020

THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE PISTON RINGS NEEDS TO BE CHANGE BUT THE WARRANTY OR THE RECALL FOR THAT HAVE BEEN EXPIRED AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO CHANGE THAT WITH THE DEALERSHIP

NHTSA ID

11280694

Incident

Mar 28, 2017

WHENEVER THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN PRACTICALLY EVERY CODE FLASHES ON THE DASHBOARD. I'VE ALREADY HAD THE ACURA DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIX THIS PROBLEM AT A COST OF $499.52, A YEAR AGO. IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO WEEKS AGO AFTER A HEAVY RAINSTORM BUT THE NEXT DAY EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS AGO, AGAIN THERE WAS A HEAVY RAIN STORM. BASED ON ONLINE COMPLAINTS WATER SEEMS TO BE GETTING INTO THE DRIVER KICK PANEL FUSE BLOCK AREA AND IS CAUSING RUST. I WOULD THINK THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

11245367

Incident

Aug 26, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

ENGINE HAS QUIT SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS. HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTART BY TURNING IGNITION SWITCH TO OFF (WHICH REQUIRES VEHICLE TO BE PUT INTO PARK) THEN TURNED BACK TO START. LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON A DIVIDED CITY STREET YESTERDAY WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT JUST PAST A RAILROAD CROSSING; VEHICLE BEHIND ME HAD STOPPED ON THE RAILROAD TRACK. AS THE TRAFFIC LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN A TRAIN WAS APPROACHING...WITH CROSSING GATES COMING DOWN AND RED LIGHTS FLASHING. THAT'S WHEN MY ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING. DRIVER BEHIND ME STARTED FRANTICALLY BLOWING HIS HORN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND DRIVE AWAY WHICH ALLOWED THE CAR BEHIND ME TO GET OFF THE TRACK. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA WAS 80 DEGREES PER NWS. I HAVE WONDERED IF MY VEHICLE'S BLUETOOTH COULD BE AFFECTING THE ENGINE IGNITION OR COMPUTER IN SOME WAY SO AS TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY STOP. SO, SOME WEEKS AGO I TURNED THE VEHICLE'S BLUETOOTH OFF. I HAD NO MORE ENGINE STOPPAGES UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN THE RAILROAD CROSSING GATES AND RED LIGHTS ACTIVATED CLOSE BY. NOW WONDERING IF THERE COULD BE SOME TYPE OF RADIO WAVE OR ELECTRICAL TRIGGER INVOLVED IN THIS ENGINE STOPPAGE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11232788

Incident

Jul 16, 2019

Mileage

99,300 mi

BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES SOON AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TREATED ME AS IF I WAS A CRAZY FEMALE DRIVER. WAS TOLD THAT OUR PURCHASE INCLUDED OIL CHANGES FOR THE FIRST YEAR AND A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH THEY CONVENIENTLY COULDN'T FIND AND WE MOVED SO I CAN'T FIND OUR PAPERWORK. ISSUE HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE YEARS. IT ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T KNOW WHICH GEAR IT WANTS TO BE IN. IT CAUSES A SHUDDER FEELING LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER, AND TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS IN THE MDXS, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LETTER THAT ACURA SENT OUT TO OTHER PEOPLE, THEY CALL IT A TRANSMISSION JUDDER. I AM CALLING A NEW DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND PLAN ON MAKING A MECHANIC RIDE WITH ME TO PROVE WHAT'S GOING ON. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. YOUR SYSTEM WANTS ME TO ENTER A DATE FOR THEN THIS HAPPENED. IT BEGAN IN OCTOBER OF 2009, HAS BEEN ONGOING, AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THE CAR HAD 21 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. NOW IT HAS 120,000+. THE ISSUES BEING ON ACCELERATION AND CONTINUES UNTIL AT LEAST 60MPH, EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR IN TRAFFIC OR TRY TO GO UP A HILL UNTIL THE NEXT GEAR KICKS IN BECAUSE IT IS SLUGGISH WHEN YOU PRESS THE ACCELERATOR DOWN EVEN TO THE FLOORBOARD.

NHTSA ID

11221926

Incident

Oct 1, 2009

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PRODUCED A LOUD RUBBING NOISE AND SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ACURA PEABODY (233 ANDOVER ST, PEABODY, MA 01960, (978) 532-9110) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TEST COULD NOT READ THE CODES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE TORQUED THEY ALSO ROTATED ALL THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST DUE TO THE EXPIRED WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11195787

Incident

Mar 25, 2019

Mileage

108,000 mi

RECEIVED A NOV 2016 LETTER FROM ACURA HQ. TORRANCE , CA THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON 2007-2013 ACURA MDX WITH FRONT & REAR ACTIVE DAMPERS, MAY HAVE HARD TO DETECT LEAKS ESPECIALLY ON FRONT SUSPENSION. I HAD PURCHASED MY ONE OWNER 2010 MDX ADVANCE OVER A YEAR BEFORE, BUT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE FOUND THE REAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY...THIS AFTER 3-4 ALIGNMENTS & NOTICED MY NEW MICHELIN TIRES WERE WEARING NOTCHED. WELL UPON FINDING OUT ABOUT THE ABOVE DEFECT & ALSO FINDING THE PRICE TO REPLACE THESE 4 ELECTONIC MAGNETIC SHOCKS WERE IN THE $2500 BALLPARK FOR PARTS, PLUS LABOR ADDITIONALLY, AS A 72 YR. OLD MARINE CORPS VETERAN W/LIMITED INCOME, I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK UPON FINDING FURTHER THAT ACURA REFUSED TO REPLACE THESE DIRECTLY SAFETY RELATED EXPENSIVE SHOCK ABSORBERS EVEN THOUGH THEY STATED IN LETTER THEY WOULD REPLACE EVEN WITH MULTIPLE PREVIOUS OWNERS. MY MILEAGE WAS JUST OVER THEIR IMPOSED LIMITATIONS & WOULD NOT BRING THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY STANDARDS EVEN THOUGH I ASKED & APPEALED AS A LONG TIME HONDA/ACURA CUSTOMER. SO THESE TOTALLY UNSAFE SUSPENSION PARTS ARE STILL ON MY ACURA. FURTHERMORE ON 1/6/19 I HIT A SLIGHT BUMP ON AN INTERSTATE HWY AT ABOUT THE 70MPH SPEED LIMIT. THE VEHICLE LOST CONTACT WITH ROADWAY APPARENTLY & UPON COMING BACK TO PAVEMENT, VEERED WILDLY INTO & OUT OF BOTH LANES OF INTERSTATE PLUS ALMOST TURNING OVER AS TIRES SEEMED TO "OUT OF CONTROL" GRAB PAVEMENT BUT ALMOST UNSTEERABLE. IN 56 YRS OF DRIVING, I'VE NEVER EVER HAD ANYTHING CLOSE TO THAT HAPPENING...SO ACURA I APPEAL TO YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THIS MATTER PLUS FOR THOSE OTHER 7 YEARS OF ACTIVE DAMPER PROBLEMS OF MANUFACTURE DEFECT ORIGIN. WE NOTICE THE PART #'S ARE CHANGED, SO THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN AN UPGRADE IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM, WE TRUST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS CRITICAL SAFETY MATTER.

NHTSA ID

11170113

Incident

Jan 6, 2019

Mileage

147,570 mi

EXCESSIVE OIL USE. 2 QUARTS EVERY 1500 MILES. VSA CHECK TRAILER ASSIST CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON OFTEN.

NHTSA ID

11063792

Incident

Oct 25, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY ACURA VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION AT LEVELS THAT REQUIRE THE ADDITION OF ENGINE OIL BETWEEN ACURA'S RECOMMENDED OIL CHANGE INTERVALS. WHEN PRESENTED THE CAR TO ACURA FOR REPAIR AI WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION IS CONSIDERED NORMAL.

NHTSA ID

11023015

Incident

May 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CRANKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED SPARKS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,200. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

10992272

Incident

May 30, 2017

Mileage

99,200 mi

THE STEERING HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2013. THE STEERING WHEEL IS REALLY TIGHT. I AM NOT ABLE TO PERFORM A "K" TURN, WITHOUT EXTREME PHYSICAL EXERTION.

NHTSA ID

10984415

Incident

Jan 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 ACURA MDX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED PINCHED NERVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY AND TWO BULGED DISCS IN THE BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG AND A DISLOCATED DISC IN THE BACK THAT ALSO REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10944333

Incident

Nov 7, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

TAKATA INFLATORS DEAR NHTSA, I HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUESTION THAT I WAS HOPING YOU COULD ANSWER FOR ME: EVERY 2010 ACURA VEHICLE IS RECALLED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MDX, HOW IS IT THAT THE MDX IS NOT ON THE LIST? DID THEY USE A DIFFERENT AIRBAG CONFIGURATION IN THE MDX THAT THEY DID NOT USE IN ALL OTHER MODELS, THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE IT WOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE FOR HONDA? MY WIFE'S 2010 TL WAS ONLY RECENTLY ADDED TO THE LIST (~3 MONTHS AGO), SO I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE THE MDX APPEAR ON THE LIST NEXT MONTH. I AM INQUIRING BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE MDX IF THE AIRBAG IS SUSPECT. BEST REGARDS, CONCERNED ACURA OWNER

NHTSA ID

10884440

Incident

Jul 12, 2016

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A STATE ROAD. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM THE LEFT LANE THE KEY BLADE SEPARATED FROM THE KEY FOB AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. THE KEY FOB HAS A ENGINE IMMOBILIZER AND WHEN IT FELL THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. WITH NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED IT TO GO STRAIGHT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT TURN LANE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT OF THE KEY DESIGN. THE KEY BLADE POPS OPEN FROM THE FOB AND GETS LOOSE AS TIME GOES BY. THE MANUFACTURER'S POSITION IS THIS IN NOT A DEFECT BUT NORMAL WEAR. A $50,000 VEHICLE LESS THAN SIX YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAN BREAK ANYTIME AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT LIKE MY WIFE HAD.

NHTSA ID

10873194

Incident

May 29, 2016

Mileage

70,500 mi